Headlight tester



July 31, 1934. J. G. coLLlNs HEADLIGHT TESTER Filed March 13, 1931 2SheetS-Sheeb T N QQ/ v n mw A m July 31, 1934. J. G. COLLINS l HEADLIGHTTESTER Filed March l5, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR @ja/2266* G.CO//z/z@h BY f AT'roR EY Patented July 31, 1934 UNITED STATES rosati.

HEADLEGHT TESTER Application March 13, 1931, Serial No. 522,281

10 Claims.

The main object of this invention is to provide an apparatus by means ofwhich the focusing of headlights may be quickly and easily gaged.

` A further object is to provide an apparatus of this character which isportable and readily adjusted to vehicles having headlights at variouselevations and positions.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of my invention willdenitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is clenedin the claims. j

A structure which embodies the features of my invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: y

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying the features ofmy invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view mainly in vertical section on line 2-2 ofFig. 1 showing certain details of the adjusting means and also of thefinder or reading gage.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the adjustable pedestal orstandard.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line 4 4 of Figs. 1 and 5 `showingdetails of the reflector and its housing, the reflector being shown inopen position by full lines and in closed position by dotted lines. p

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view mainly in vertical section on a linecorresponding to line 5 5 of Figs. 1 and 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail view sectioned on line 6,-6 of Fig. 5, showingfurtherv details of the reflector' housing.

Referring to the drawings, I provide a frame 1 provided with a pair ofwheels 2 at one end and having a standard or pedestal at its oppositeend. The standard illustrated is made up of a tubular section 3 mountedon the base or frame and an adjustable section 4 telescoping within thesection 3 so that the height of the pedestal may be varied as desiredwithin its scope of adjustment. The section 3 has a vertical slot 5 inone side thereof to receive the rack 6 on the section 4.

A driving worm '7 for the rack is provided, mounted in the ears 8 on theupright section 3 and provided with a shaft 9 having a handwheel 10 atits outer end. The worm '7 is provided as a means for driving the rackas it serves as a lock for holding the adjustable section 4 of thepedestal in its adjusted position. However, to prevent accidentalmovement I provide a set screw 11 as a further means for locking thepedestal in its adjusted positions. -55 At its upper end the pedestalsection 4 is provided with a supporting arm 12. This arm is in verticalalinement with and projects over the base. At the outer end of the arm Imount an adjusting bar 13 by means of the pivot 14 so that the adjustingbar can be swung in a vertical plane on this pivot.

The adjusting screw and rest 15 is threaded through Ythe arm to engagethe under side of the bar. The adjusting bar is provided with a scale orgage 16 coacting with a pointer 17 on the 65 rear end of the arm 12 orotherwise suitably mounted on the adjustable member of the standard.

At the forward end of the bar 13 is a guide frame 18 which facilitatespositioning of the de- 70 vice relative to the headlight to be tested asindicated at 19. At its rear end the bar 13 is provided with a handpiece20 by means of which the machine may be manipulated to proper positionrelative to the headlight.

On the rear end of the bar I mount a housing 21 for the rearwardlyinclined mirror or reflector 22, this reflector being preferablyvertically curved. The housing is provided with a door or closure 23which may be swung t0 the posi- 80 tion shown by dotted lines in Figs. 4and 5 to enclose and protect the reflector, or swung to open positionwhen the apparatus is in use as shown by full lines in Figs. 4 and 5.

To prevent collapsing of the door against the rear side of the housingits upper edge is pivoted at 24 to hinged links 25, the hinged links 25being pivoted to the housing at 26.

Between the door and the positioning frame I mount a U-shaped support 27for the finder or 90 v gage glass 28. This finder or gage glass ismounted in a rearwardly inclined position with its lower edge spacedfrom the bottom of the support so that rays from the lamp may pass belowthe gage glass, strike the reflector, and are reflected upon the gageglass or finder. A forwardly inclined shield 29 extends upwardly fromthe lower edge of the finder so that the direct rays of a lamp cannotstrike the finder.

A cover of black or other light excluding cloth 30 is hung over thereflector housing and nder support, the operator lifting the front endof this to inspect the reflection on the finder.

The finder is preferably provided with gaging or positioning indicia, ablack horizontal line across the glass as indicated at 31 being foundquite effective for the purpose.

With the parts thus arranged the machine can be quickly positioned toheadlights of various makes of automobiles now on the market andadjusted to the position indicating the proper focusing of the lamp,that is, the distance from the vehicle at which it is desired thefocusing point of the lamp shall strike the ground, and the lamp thenadjusted to the proper position.

I have not attempted to illustrate or describe certain other embodimentsand adaptations of my invention which I contemplate as it is believedthat this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody oradapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of avertically adjustable sectional standard provided with a supportingbase, a forwardly projecting arm on the top section of said standard, asupporting bar pivotally mounted on the vfront end of said arm fortilting adjustment in a vertical plane and provided with a positioninggage, said bar being provided with a handpiece by means of which thedevice may be manipulated on its base, a screw for adjusting andsupporting said bar, a positioning frame at the front end of said baradapted to facilitate positioning of the device relative to a headlight,a reflector housing at the rear end of said bar, a rearwardly inclinedvertically curved reflector mounted in said reflector housing, aU-shaped support mounted on said bar between said positioning frame andreflector, a translucent finder plate mounted on said support in arearwardly inclined position and with its lower edge spaced from thebottom of said support, a forwardly inclined shield extending upwardlyfrom the lower edge of said finder plate, and a light excluding coveringbetween the reflector housing and the finder plate.

2. A headlight tester provided with a supporting base, a standardcarried by said base, a forwardly projecting arm on said standard, asupporting bar pivotally mounted on the front end of said arm fortilting adjustment in a vertical plane, a positioning frame at the frontend of said bar adapted to facilitate positioning of the device relativeto a headlight, a reflector housing at the rear end of said bar, arearwardly inclined vertically curved reflector mounted in saidreflector housing, a U-shaped support mounted on said bar between saidpositioning frame and reflector, a translucent finder plate mounted onsaid support in a rearwardly inclined position and with its lower edgespaced from the bottom of said support, a forwardly inclined shieldextending upwardly from the lower edge of said finder plate, and alightexcluding covering between the reflector housing and the ilnder plate.

3. A headlight tester provided with a supporting base, a verticallyadjustable sectional standard carried by said base, a forwardlyprojecting arm on the top section of said standard, a supporting barpivotally mounted on the front end of said arm for tilting adjustment ina vertical plane and provided with a positioning gage, said bar beingprovided with a handpiece by means of which the device may bemanipulated on its base, a screw for adjusting and supporting said bar,a reflector housing at the rear end of said bar, a rearwardly inclinedcurved reflector mounted in said reflector housing, a U-shaped supportmounted on said bar in front of said reflector, a translucent finderplate mounted on said support in a rearwardly inclined position and withits lower edge spaced from the bottom of said support, and a lightexcluding covering between the reflector housing and the finder plate.

4. A headlight tester provided with a supporting base, a standard onsaid base, a forwardly projecting arm on said standard, a supporting barpivotally mounted on the front end of said armI for tilting adjustmentin a vertical plane, a reflector housing at the rear end of said bar, arearwardly inclined concave reflector mounted in said reflector housing,a U-shaped support mounted on said bar in front of said reflector, atranslucent finder plate mounted on said support in a rearwardlyinclined position and with its lower edge spaced from the bottom of saidsupport, and a light excluding covering between the reflector housingand the nder plate.

5. A headlight tester provided with a vertically adjustable standard, asupporting bar mounted on the said standard for tilting adjustment in avertical plane and provided with a positioning gage, a screw means foradjusting said bar, a positioning member at the front end of said baradapted to facilitate positioning of the device relative to a headlight,a reflector housing at the rear Vend of said bar, a concave reflectormounted in said reflector housing, a U-shaped support mounted on saidbar between said positioning member and reflector, a translucent finderplate mounted on said support with its lower edge spaced from the bottomof said support, a forwardly inclined shield extending upwardly from thelower edge of said finder plate, and a light excluding covering betweenthe reflector housing and the finder plate.

6. A headlight tester provided with a vertically adjustable standard, asupporting bar mounted on the said standard for tilting adjustment in avertical plane and provided with a positioning gage, a positioningmember at the front end of said bar adapted to facilitate positioning ofthe device relative to a headlight, a reflector housing at the rear endof said bar, a concave reflector mounted in said reflector housing, aU-shaped support mounted on said bar between said positioning member andreflector, a translucent finder plate mounted on said support with itslower edge spaced from the bottom of said SuppOrt, a forwardly inclinedshield extending upwardly from the lower edge of said finder plate, anda light excluding covering between the reflector housing and the nderplate. 1

'7. A headlight tester provided with a vertically adjustable standard, asupporting bar mounted on said standard for tilting adjustment in avertical plane and provided with a positioning gage, means for adjustingsaid bar, a reflector housing at the rear end of said bar, an inclinedcurved reflector mounted in said reflector housing, a U- shaped supportmounted on said bar in front of said reflector, a translucent finderplatey mounted on said support with its lower edge spaced from thebottom of said support and positioned substantially at the focus of saidcurved reflector so that light reflected from a headlight by saidreflector forms a line of light on said finder plate, and a lightexcluding covering between the reflector housing and the finder plate.

8. A headlight tester provided with a vertically adjustable standard, asupport mounted on said standard for tilting adjustment in a verticalplane, a positioning gage operatively associated with said support, apositioning member at the forward end of said support adapted tofacilitate positioning of the device relative to a headlight, a concavereflector mounted on said support at an angle tothe path of light from aheadlight positioned relative to the positioning member and with itsfocus out of the path of light from the headlight, a iinder platemounted in front of and substantially at the focus of said reilector sothat light reflected from a headlight positioned relative to thepositioning member is reflected as a line on said nder plate, and alight excluding covering between the reflector and finder plate, thelnder plate being provided with a shield extending upwardly fromy itslower edge and on the side thereof opposite said reflector.

9. A headlight tester provided with a standard having a support mountedthereon for tilting adjustment in a vertical plane, a positioning memberat the forward end of said support adapted to facilitate positioning thedevice relative to a. headlight, a concave reilector mounted on saidsupport and at an angle to the line of light from a headlight inposition relative to said positioning member and kwith its focus out ofthe path of light from the headlight, and a finder plate mounted on saidsupport in front of and substantially at the focus of said reilector andout of the line of light from a headlight positioned relative to saidvpositioning means and directed at said reflector.

10. A headlight tester provided with a standard having a support mountedthereon for tilting adjustment in a vertical plane, a concave reilectormounted on said support and at an angle thereto and with its focus outof the path of light from the headlight, and a nder plate mounted onsaid support in front of and substantially at the focus of saidreilector.

JAMES G. COLLINS.

